Method and means for readying supply bobbins



Jan. 3, 1967 D. G. CRUICKSHANK ET AL METHOD AND MEANS FOR READYINGSUPPLY BOBBINS Filed Oct. 7, 1964 lllllllll ""uunu 4 Sheets-Sheet 1lHlll" J Hillllllli\ lNVE/V TOPS DAV/D c. CFU/CKSHA/VK ROBERT E. MALESJOHN NELSON A 7'TORNE Y5 Jan. 3, 1967 D. a. CRUICKSHANK ET AL 3,295,776

METHOD AND MEANS FOR READYING SUPPLY BOBBINS Filed Oct. 7, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 5 //Vl ENTOR5.'

.D/lV/D 6. CAU/C/(SHANK ROBE/P7" E. MALE-'5 JOHN NELSON ATTORNE Y5 Jan.3, 1967 D. 5. CRUICKSHANK ET AL 3,295,776-

METHOD AND MEANS FOR READYING SUPPLY BOBBINS Filed Oct. '7, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 4 I52 mvzurons DAVID a. CRUICKSHANK ROBERT E. MALES JOHNNELSON FIG. 7a ATTORNE United States Patent 3,295,776 METHOD AND MEANSFGR READYING SUPPLY BOBBINF;

David G. Cruickshank, North Kingstown, Robert E. Males, Cranston, andJohn Nelson, North Kingstown, R.I., assignors to lLeesona Corporation,Warwick, RI a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Oct. 7, 1964, er. No.402,096 17 Claims. (Cl. 24235.6)

The present invention relates to winding machines of the automatic typewherein yarn is wound from supply bobbins into packages and relates,more particularly, to method and means for readying supply bobbins forrewinding into take-up packages on an automatic winding machine.

In U.S. Patent 2,764,362 to William V. Goodhue et al. entitled WindingMachine and issued September 25, 1956 there is disclosed and claimed afully automatic winding machine for winding yarn or the like intovarious forms of take-up packages, especially cones. Commonly assignedUnited States patent application S.N. 230,051 of John P. Kieronski filedOctober 12, 1962, now Patent No. 3,217,235, discloses method and meansfor automatically preparing a supply bobbin for use in an automaticwinding machine of the type set forth in the cited Goodhue patent. Inessence, the structure of the Kieronski patent application consists ofan automatically indexing yarn carrier for controlled movement to doif aspent bobbin therefrom and bring a fresh supply bobbin, transferred tosaid carrier from a reserve magazine, to an active unwinding position; arotatable arbor for rotating said fresh bobbin in a controlled manner;and fluid means for extricating the outer end of yarn from the freshsupply bobbin and presenting said end for uniting with the loose outeryarn end of the take-up package being wound on the automatic windingmachine.

Supply bobbins of the type employed for rewinding on a winding machineof the type disclosed in the Goodhue et al. patent commonly are wound sothat the final windings of the service wind of the bobbin are at or nearthe top or apical end of the bobbin as the bobbin is positioned on aspinning frame. However, as a final incident in the operation of theframe winding these bobbins, the yarn guide means of the frame islowered to the lower butt end or base of the bobbin in a relativelyrapid motion at which time winding of the bobbin is stopped. This finalmotion of the yarn guiding means, e.g., a ring rail and companiontraveller, produces a rather steep helical turn, or possible severalsteep helical turns of yarn over the outer wraps of yarn on the servicewind. The one or more steep helical turns extending from the top to thebobbin of the service wind are known in the trade as the dotting windand this term will be employed herein to describe these yarn wraps.Since the bobbin is still rotating and yarn is being wound thereon,after the dofling wind has been formed and with the ring rail at thebase of the bobbin, a terminal cluster or bunch of yarn windings isproduced on the base of the bobbin. These windings or coils of yarnplace-d on the base bobbin after the dofling wind, i.e., the cluster ofyarn coils placed on the butt end of the bobbin as a final step in thewinding operation as the ring rail of the frame reaches its lowermostposition, are known in the trade as a tailing wind and this term will beapplied hereinafter in connection with the aforesaid yarn bunch at thebase of the bobbin. As just stated, the tailing wind is a continuationof the dotting wind which, in turn, is a continuation of the main orservice Wind of the bobbin and is formed as an incident of the operationof the frame on which such supply bobbins are wound. Since the machineof the Goodhue et al. patent contemplates over-end unwinding of thesupply bobbins, i.e., withdrawal of the yarn over the apical end of thesupply bobbin, it is rather obvious that the tailing Wind must beremoved prior to using the bobbin as a supply source for the windingmachine. If this is not done, any attempt to withdraw the yarn off overthe apical end of the bobbin would only result in breaking the yarn.

The method and apparatus of the cited Kieronski patent applicationprovides automatic means directed to accomplishing the foregoingdesideratum. However, in practice with the invention of the Kieronskiapplication it may occur that an excessively long length of yarn or arather large number of coils of yarn, exceeding the length of thetailing wind and even the doffing wind, may be stripped off the bobbinduring the end-finding and readying cycle. This possibility is presentedsince the fluid means employed in locating the loose outer end of thesupply bobbin exerts a pressure stream along the outer yarn wraps of apart of the service wind as Well as the tailing wind on the bobbin,urging these wraps downward to a cutting means where the yarn issevered. Thus, depending on such factors as the pressure of the fluidand the characteristics of the yarn Wound on the bobbin it will beappreciated that instances may arise with the Kieronski apparatus whereexcessive amounts of yarn, i.e., a portion of the service wind, might bestripped oh the supply bobbin or, at least, undesirably disturbed duringthe end-finding cycle thereof in the absence of rather stringentcontrols.

From these considerations it will be apparent immediately that it ishighly desirable to provide method and means for readying a bobbinautomatically for unwinding wherein the amount of yarn unwound from thebobbin and severed prior to joining the supply bobbin yarn end with thetake-up package yarn end is controlled and wherein the wraps of yarn ofthe service wind are left undisturbed. To the ends then, the instantinvention is directed to improvements in the apparatus of the Kieronskiapplication.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a methodfor readying a supply bobbin automatically for joining of outer endthereof with the outer yarn end of a companion take-up package.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means forextricating the outer yarn end of a bobbin automatically and to presentsaid yarn end for joining with the outer yarn end of a companion.take-up package.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means forexerting a force tangentially against the zone of a bobbin having theouter yarn end of the bobbin embedded therein to extricate the endtherefrom, the force acting in plane in which the yarn wraps aredisposed, and means for acting on this outer yarn end after itsextrication to manipulate it for joining with the outer yarn end of acompanion take-up package.

Yet, an additional object of the present invention is to provide fluidmeans for locating the outer yarn end of a supply bobbin, fluid meansfor introducing the yarn into a zone where, by cooperation of a positivefluid stream and negative pressure the tailing wind of the bobbin isunwound and severed, and the outer end of yarn attached to the bobbin isdelivered for uniting with the outer yarn end of a companion take-uppackage.

Still, another object of the present invention is to provide method andmeans for locating the outer yarn end of a supply bobbin automaticallywhich is simple in operation and design, yet which is durable andreliable in performance.

These and other objects of the present invention w1ll appear from thefollowing detailed description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of the present invention incorporatedin an automatic winding machine;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a View taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the bobbin carrier portion ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 showing the operation ofthe transverse jet at the initial stage of extricating the outer yarnend of the bobbin;

FIG. 5a is a diagrammatic view illustrating the path of the air from thetransverse jet and the course assumed by the yarn end during thereadying stage of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the yarn end as it is actedon by the down-jet and cross-jet;

FIG. 6a is a diagrammatic view illustrating the path of the air from thetransverse jet, down jet, and cross-jet, and the course assumed by theyarn end in response thereto at the end-finding stage of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the yarn end engaged insevering means;

FIG. 7a is a diagrammatic view illustrating the path of air from thetransverse jet, down-jet, and cross-jet as the yarn end is positioned asshown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the yarn end being conveyedaxially of the bobbin by the up-jet.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the invention, it willserve to explain that the improvements of the present invention areessentially confined to the yarn carrier zone of the apparatus of theKieronski patent application, earlier cited. As the other sections ofthat apparatus form no part of the present invention they will beneither described nor illustrated herein, except insofar as theirinclusion will contribute to over-all clarity in understanding theinstant invention. Similarly, it has already been pointed out that theKieronski apparatus has particular utilization with the winding machineof US. Patent 2,764,362. Here again, the winding machine of that patentforms no real part of the present invention per se and, except insofaras the inclusion of some portions of that machine are presented toprovide correlation between that machine and the present invention, thedetails of that patented machine are omitted. It will be understood thatthe parts of that patented machine which are omitted herein willordinarily be present in the complete working apparatus and may be thesame as are shown and described in said patent.

From a broad or general viewpoint, the present invention may becharacterized as comprising a yarn carrier arranged for translationaround a vertical axis, with a rotatable, inflatable arbor supported onthe yarn carrier. The arbor serves to support a supply yarn bobbinthereon and to rotate the bobbin in a direction opposite to thedirection of the yarn winding thereof. Centering means are provided toguide the central bore of the bobbin onto the arbor. With the supplybobbin rotating, means are operative to direct a transverse fluid streamagainst the lower end of the bobbin in a manner such that the fluidstream impinges on the yarn winds of the bobbin at a point tangent tothe axis of the bobbin. Moreover, the force of the fluid stream isdirected in the plane of the yarn coils, that is to say, normal to theaxis of the bobbin on which the yarn is wound. By virtue of this fluidpressure the outer yarn end, normally constituting the tailing wind, isfreed from the lower end of the bobbin and extended from the bobbingenerally within the confines and direction of flow of the transversefluid stream. Thereafter fluid means are operative to provide a positivepressure against the outer end of yarn to move it into a zone forsevering, the positive pressure stream in said zone being directed in apath to create a vortex, the cavity of which forms about the severingmeans. Thus, the cooperative effect of positive and negative pressuresis operative to position the outer yarn end for severing. As the bobbinis rotated the tailing wind of the supply bobbin is, thusly, severed. Inconsequence thereof a free end of the supply bobbin is provided which isconveyed by fluid pressure means to a servicing section of the windingmachine to be joined with the yarn end extending from the take-uppackage.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings and with particularreference firstly to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates the lower frontsection of a yarn winding machine which section may be an element of theframe for containing various operative members of the yarn servicingassembly as disclosed in the Goodhue et al. patent earlier identified.Thus, the upper part of section 10 is covered by a flat supporting plate12 on which is disposed various yarn servicing elements including a yarnsensing and tensioning device 14, the construction and operation ofwhich is fully described in US. Patent 3,081,045 issued March 12, 1963to T. E. Pitts, et al. A bonnet 15 is provided to generally enclose theforward end of section 10, as fully described in the earlier citedieronski patent application. Additionally, plate 12 serves as a supportfor a conventional slub catcher 16, and a yarn guiding bail 18.

A rail 20 is situated beneath the front end of section 10 of themachine. This rail 20 constitutes a part of the frame of the windingmachine and is supported in fixed, spaced relationship to the floor orother surface on which the machine rests, the support therefore notbeing illus' trated herein. A pedestal bearing 22 is mounted on theupper surface of rail 20. Screws 23 serve to hold the pedestal bearingin place on said rail. A hollow, tubular and rotatable shaft 24 isjournalled at its lower end in the pedestal bearing 22. At its upper endshaft 24 projects into the interior of section 10.

A second shaft 26 extends longitudinally within tubular shaft 24, and isheld concentrically therewithin by suitable bushings, not illustrated.At its lower end internal shaft 26 passes downwardly through pedestalbearing 22 and rail 20, the lowermost end of said shaft 26 having abevel gear 30 afiixed thereon. A further bevel gear 32 is suitablysupported on a power shaft 34 for rotation and is positioned to enmeshwith gear 30. Power shaft 34 extends rearwardly from rail 20 beneath themachine and is connected at its opposing end to a suitable power source,not shown herein, so that, during operation of the machine, shaft 34undergoes constant rotation and transmits that rotation to internalshaft 26 through bevel gears 30, 32. Clutch means, not shown, but whichmay be of the type set forth in the cited Kieronski patent applicationare operative periodically to transmit the drive from internal shaft 26to external tubular shaft 24 to thereby rotate this external shaftthrough one full revolution. In consequence thereof certain elements ofthe apparatus which are connected to external shaft 24 are rotatedaround the axis of shaft 26 as part of the over-all end-finding cycle.These elements include a yarn carrier bracket 40 and a support 42 for arockable balloon restricting tube 44.

The foregoing elements do not constitute a part of the instant inventionper se but, rather, are presented in the interests of providing a fulland clear understanding of the present invention. For furtherparticulars of the construction and operation of the foregoinginstrumentalities bladder 90 of rubber or similar extensible material.

reference is made to the Goodhue et al. patent considered in conjunctionwith the patent application of Kieronski, both cited earlier.

With attention once again directed to FIG. 1, bracket 40 is seen to havea stepped-down section 50 which lays in a horizontal plane radiallyoutward from shaft 24. A conventional air motor 52 is affixed on theupper surface of section 50 and toward the outer margin thereof. Section50 is hollow so as to provide a cavity at 53 (see FIG. 3). The armature54 of air motor 52 extends downward into cavity 53 and has a pulley 55secured to the lowermost end thereof. Pressurized air is introduced toair motor 52 via air hose 56 to effect rotation of armature 54. Air hose56 may be connected to either of a pair of opposite ports 57, 58 toadmit air to either side of motor 52. In this fashion the direction ofrotation of motor 52 can be controlled. Obviously, the port not selectedto feed air into motor 52 will serve as a vent.

Air motor 52 acts as the driving means for an inflatable arbor 60. Thus,the lower end of arbor 60 is provided with a whorl 62 which is supportedin a pair of spaced anti-friction bearings 64, 66 for rotation. Thebearings 64, 66 are press-fitted into a bore through section 50 (seeFIG. 2). The lower end of whorl 62 is enlarged to form a pulley 68. Anendless timing belt 70 passes about pulleys 55 and 68 so that, as airmotor 52 is driven, arbor 60 will be rotated.

With reference now to FIG. 2, it will be observed that the zone betweenbearings 64 and 66 forms an annular cavity or interspace 72. A port 74(FIG. 1), for the admittance of air into interspace 72 is drilledthrough the side of section 50. An air line 76 is connected by asuitable fitting to port 74 and is attached at its opposite end to anair supply source through a main air control valve to be described inmore detail hereafter. The whorl 62 of arbor 60 has a radial air passage78 therein, which said passage extends internally to the center of thewhorl. The blade 80 of arbor 60 is drilled longitudinally to provide anair passage at 82, said passage intersecting with passage 78. Transversebranches 84, 86 are bored inwardly of blade 80 and intersect withlongitudinal passage 82. The upper portion of said passage 82 is sealedagainst the leakage of air by a cap 87, and screw 88 which threadedlyengages with blade 80.

The periphery of blade 80 is enclosed by a cylindrical Bladder 90 issealed in air tight relationship with blade 80 at its upper,mid-section, and lower end by means of annulus rings 91, 92 and 93respectively. Thus, the arbor 60 is comprised, in essence, of twoseparate bladder portions 94 and 95, the portion 94 being definedbetween rings 91 and 92, while portion 95 is bounded by rings 92 and 93.By virtue of the contraction of arbor 60, as just described, a bobbin Bmay be deposited so that its central bore is received on the arbor. Airis thereupon admitted through port 74, into interspace 72, throughpassages 78 and 82 and outward through branches 84 and 86 to inflatebladder portions 94 and 95. The bladder, thus inflated, grips bobbin Bsecurely whereby the bobbin can be rotated with the arbor as a part ofthe over-all yarn endfinding cycle.

In the prior cited Kieronski patent application there is disclosedreserve bobbin supply magazine means and a bobbin centering mechanismcooperable therewith. The magazine means is operative to release abobbin for free fall toward the yarn carrier, and the centering means isoperative to receive the bobbin during its gravitation and center it sothat its central bore aligns with the bobbin receiving arbor whereby toseat the bobbin thereon. The present invention includes a modificationof the centering means. Thus, a concave member or plate 100 is mountedon an arm 101, this arm, in turn, being slidably held in a dove-tailslider 102 engaged for sliding movement in a vertical slot 104 of aguide 106. As is best seen in 6. FIGS. 2 and 4, guide 106 and its slot104 are parallel to arbor 60 and are aflixed to bracket 40 by means suchas screws (not shown). Member 100 is provided with a rather wide radialslot 108 which extends from the margin inwardly to the center of saidmember. At the center of member 100, slot 103 flares to provide aclearance between arbor 60 and the member so that said member 100 canslide vertically of the arbor 60 without interference therefrom. Member100 is thereby movable from a lower position with arm 102 bearing on thelower end of slot 104 at which position said member 100 encircles thelower end of spindle blade to a raised or elevated position with membersituated in a plane above arbor 60.

Member 100 is actuated longitudinally of arbor 60 by means of a cam 110which engages with slider 102. Cam 110 is mounted fast on a vertical rod112 by means of a D-shaped hub which mates with a D-shaped section 119of rod 112. Said rod 112 is rotatably journalled at its lower end in abracket extension 114, (FIGS. 1 and 2), provided as an integral part ofpedestal bearing 22. The upper section of rod 112 is carried forrotation in a bearing 116 mounted at the uppermost end of an arm 118projecting vertically from bracket 40. Said slider 102 has a borethrough its central hub somewhat larger in size than the diameter of rod112 whereby said slider is supported on the rod 112 for slidablemovement axially therealong.

Viewing FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be observed that pedest al bearing 22 hasa flange-like section cast integral therewith, said flange having gearteeth formed therein to provide a sun wheel 120. The lower end of rod112 has a planetary gear 122 secured tightly thereon. The diameters ofthe sun wheel 120 and planetary gear 122 are the same so as to provide a1:1 ratio therebetween. As shaft 24 is rotated planetary gear islikewise rotated to revolve cam 110. With shaft 24 rotating, if it beassumed that member 100 is in its starting position slider 102 will rideup the inclined edge 124- of cam 110 to lift slider 102 and, hence,plate 100 upwardly. When the lowermost edge 126 of slider 102 rides upon horizontal edge 128 of cam 110 member 100 is caused to dwell in itsuppermost position. Continued rotation of shaft 24 causes edge 126 ofslider 102 to fall off edge 1228 thereby abruptly dropping the slider102 to its lowermost position as shown in FIG. 2. A spring 130 surroundsrod 112 and is compressed between bearing 116 (FIG. 4) and the uppersurface of slider 102 for the purpose of biasing the slider downwardlyinto engagement with cam 110.

Plate 100 has already been said to act as a centering device. That is tosay, a supply bobbin is released from a supply bobbin magazine of thetype, for example, fully. described in the cited Kieronski patentapplication, and enters tube 44 butt-first. Since this operation isachieved at the point where plate 100 is in its elevate-d position thebutt end of the bobbin comes to rest on the plate 100. By virtue of theconcavity of plate 100 the butt of the bobbin moves so that its centralbore is aligned with the central hole through plate 100. Thus, as plate100 falls downwardly over arbor 60, in response to downward movement ofslider 102, the arbor enters into the bore of the bobbin.

It should be brought out at this time that plate 100 fulfills thefurther purpose of doflflng the spent bobbin. This operation is effectedas said plate 100 is elevated in response to rotation of shaft 24. Inconsequence thereof, the bobbin situated on arbor 60 is elevated abovethe arbor. As more fully described in the cited Kieronski patentapplication, bracket 42 has an upright arm 132 thereon, see FIG. 1, theupper portion of which carries a roller 134. During rotation of shaft24, this roller 134 is moved into engagement with camming surface of acam member 136 to rock tube 44 and sweep the spent bobbin oft member100, the bobbin being free to fall out of the tube and away from theyarn carrier.

' With attention now particularly to FIGS. 4-8 arbor 60 is seen to bepartially enclosed by a generally semicircular casing or duct 148 whichacts to control the movement of pressurized air in a manner to berelated more fully hereafter. Duct 140 is aflixed to bracket 41) andextends from a position with its rear wall abutting against and enclosedby guide 106 to a diametric position where said duct connects with amating U-shaped air passage 14-2. The outer or remote section 143 airpassage 142 is sealed by a wall 144, and the lower side of said section143 is cut away and enclosed by a waste collecting screen 146 (see FIG.3). Thus, air is exhausted through air passage 142 while waste materialsconducted therealong in the path of the air are collected at screen14-6. A resilient sealing element or flap 148 having an expandableaperture encloses an opening through the side wall of section 143proximate to screen 146. A cleaning instrument can be insertedconveniently through the aperture to remove the waste collected onscreen 146.

Turning again to duct 140, the right-hand side-wall 150 (FIG. 1) isformed to be arcuate and is relatively high so as to extend above theupper extreme of arbor 68. It will be observed that this high side-wall150 extends only partially around arbor 60, this wall then incliningdownwardly to join with a lower arcuate side-wall 152 which extendsaround to connect with air passage 142. Further, duct 140 has a lowerwall or floor 154 which fits closely against the raised portion ofsection 50 containing the whorl 62 of arbor 68. Duct 140 therebyprovides a substantially complete enclosure surrounding the upper regionof arbor 68. A top wall or cover is provided on duct 140. Said cover 158encloses the section of duct 148 between plate 168 and the forward endof air passage 142. The edge 159 of cover 158 adjacent plate 100 isformed concentrically around a portion of arbor 60 and is configured toconform essentially to the circumferential dimension of the portion ofplate 100 which adjoins therewith so that, when plate 100 is in itslowermost position, it acts generally as a continuance of upper wall158. In view of the fact that the clearance hole in plate 100 whichaccommodates arbor 60 is only slightly larger than the diameter of thearbor, it will be appreciated that said plate 100 is effective to moreor less deter the rapid escape of air upwardly past arbor 60 when thismember is lowered around the arbor. Hence, with plate 180 in its lowerposition, duct 150 affords 'a generally enclosed air conduit around thelower section of arbor 60 extending to air passage 142 (see FIG. 4).

Within the confines of the duct 150 arbor 60 is provided with an annulus160 of tool steel. As best seen in FIG. 3 a pair of opposing cuttingwheels 162, 163, are mounted for rotation on respective fingers 164,165, for movement relative to annulus 160. Each said finger is supportedon a respective arm 166, 167 which is, in turn, rockable about anassociated stud 168, 169 embedded in the upper surface of bracketsection 50. The ends of arms 166, 167 remote from fingers 164, 165 aresuitably joined by a pin 172 to an adjusting nut 170 engaged with ascrew 174. The screw 174, in turn, is threaded through a clip 176attached to bracket section 50 and upstanding therefrom. By virtue ofthis arrangement axially movement of screw 174 acts to shift theposition of adjusting nut 170 causing arms 166, 167 to rock on theirstuds 168, 169 and move cutter wheels 162, 163 relative to annulus 166.In operation the cutter wheels, desirably, are set snugly againstannulus 160 to rotate by frictional engagement therewith and to cut yarnintroduced therebetween.

For purposes of readying the yarn from the freshly donned bobbin onarbor 60 for delivery to the winding machine several fluid jets areprovided to the arbor. These may be referred to appropriately as atransverse jet 180, a down-jet 182, a cross-jet 184 and an up-jet 186.Each said jet 186-184 is connected through an appropriate air hose 190,192, 194 and 196, respectively, to a main air control valve 200 whichis, in turn connected to a central air source, not shown, and which maybe the same type of air control valve fully described in the Kieronskipatent application referred to earlier herein. Since valve 288 is fullydescribed and its operation completely set forth in that patentapplication further details thereof will not be set forth herein.However, it will serve to note that valve is operable cooperatively witha plurality of trip dogs 202 to admit air through the various jets in aprogrammed manner as desired and each trip dog is adjustable to controlthe on-off status of each of the plurality of valves 264 and thereforethe flow of air through each of the jets 180 84. It is well within thescope of one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains toadapt the valve of the Kieronski patent application to the requirementsof the present invention.

Again considering transverse jet 180, this jet is joined with its airhose 190 through a connection 286 which has a slotted block 288 castintegral therewith along one side thereof. A clamp screw 210 is passedthrough the slot in block 288 and threadedly engages in a slidable nutin the slot (not shown), in the top side of bracket section 58. Anenlarged shoulder portion of screw 218 binds on the top of block 288 toclamp the block in any desired position within the limits of the slot.Thus, by moving block 208 transverse jet 188 can be suitably positionedto deliver pressurized air to strike the outer yarn coils or windings atthe lower end of the bobbin at a point tangent to the axis of saidbobbin, see FIG. 5. In consequence thereof, the air delivered bytransverse jet is operable to raise the outer end of yarn from thedonned bobbin and cause this end to unwind from the bobbin as saidbobbin is rotated on arbor 60. The target area for the outer yarn endblown by transverse jet 188 is against the interior side of side wall158 at the point thereof where the open end of slot 188 lies proximatethereto, the end thus entering into the path of the air emitted fromdown-jet 182.

As seen, for example, in FIG. 4 down-jet 182 is secured in an openingthrough side wall 158 of duct 140 by a collar 212 which is press-fittedinto the opening. Downjet 182 is aligned in the vertical plane of and atthe outer open end of slot 183 so that the air discharged therefromflows downward and intersects the path of the yarn delivered bytransverse jet 180. This intersecting zone occurs in the region of slot108 in plate 100. Thus, transverse jet 180 and down-jet 182 arecooperative to the end that the outer yarn end which is initiallyretrieved from the bobbin by the transverse jet is delivered into theair stream from down-jet 182. The yarn end is thereupon blown downwardlybelow plate and into the interior cavity of duct 140, there being ampleclearance between plate 180 and side wall 150 for this movement of theyarn. It has been found in practice that the yarn end will migrate tothe region within duct without assistance from the pressure of down-jet182 and will be duly transferred by the cross-jet to be next described.Yet, down-jet 182 is provided to the end that prompt and rapid deliveryof the yarn end into the duct will be achieved.

Cross-jet 184 is secured in an aperture 214 through the lower section ofside wall and extends into duct 140 below the plane of cover 158.Cross-jet 184 is aligned to deliver air along the interior wall of duct140 (see FIG. 3), the air current therefrom conforming generally to thecontour of this interior wall and circulating vertically around thelower region of arbor 60 due to the arcuate configuration of side walls150 and 152. By virtue of this advantageous arrangement the yarn end ofthe tailing wind is carried between cutter wheels 162, 163 and annulusto be severed.

Once the desired amount of yarn has been severed, i.e., the lengthconstituting the tailing wind, the up-jet 186 provides a blast of air tomove the yarn, that is to say, the doffing Wind plus possibly a lengthof the service wind,

upward to the winding machine. To this end up-jet 186 is provided as theupturned end of stiff depending air hose 196, the opposite end of saidair hose being fitted into a valve 2112 of main air control valve 200.

It will be appreciated that there may be additional auxiliary air jetsprovided for controlling the yarn during its upward movement to the zoneenclosed by bonnet 15 and into position for uniting with the yarn endfrom the take-up package. These jets may include an auxiliary jet 216receiving pressurized air through a suitable air tube 218 connected to avalve in air control valve 211%). Such auxiliary jets are fullydescribed in the patent application of Kieronski and reference isdirected thereto for further articulars thereof.

The operation of the present invention will now be summarized. In FIG. 1the arbor is shown in its active unwinding position. As described in theKieronski pat ent application, external shaft 24 is rotated byinstrumentalities referred to therein to achieve one full revolution ofthe external shaft. Hence, assuming a bobbin or arbor has been unwoundby virtue of its having delivered its supply to a take-up package on thewinding machine, shaft 24 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction(FIG. 3) in consequence whereof a trip dog 202 is carried into contactwith an appropriate star wheel 204 to shut off the air to arbor 60 andthereby release the spent bobbin. Simultaneously therewith, cam 11%which is fixed on shaft 24 is rotated to bring its inclined edge 124into engagement with slider 102. As a result slider 1112 is caused toride up in slot 104 thereby elevating member 100. Since the base of thespent bobbin on arbor 6t resides on or closely adjacent plate 160, thisplate, as it rises, operates to elevate the bobbin off the arbor.Continued rotation of shaft 24 causes roller 13 1 to move into contactwith camming surface 136 resulting in tube 44 being rockedcounterclockwise (FIG. 1). Thereby, the spent bobbin falls down throughtube 44 to be ejected. Doifing of the bobbin is completed after about130 of rotation of shaft 24, assuming the shaft 24 to be at zero degreeswhen arbor 611 is in its active unwinding position as shown in FIG. 1.

Continued rotation of shaft 24 presents plate 1% beneath a reservebob-bin magazine of the type, for instance, shown and described in theKieronski patent application Where a reserve bobbin B is dropped intotube 44 and held at its base on plate 1%. This operation occurs aftershaft 24 has indexed about 180. At this time member 1130 will bedwelling in its uppermost position as edge 126 of slider 1112 ridesalong edge 128 of cam 110. Further rotation of external shaft 24 willcause edge 126 to fall off said cam edge 1215, the plate 1611) fallingabruptly to its lowermost position (FIG. 2) and the bore of the bobbinsliding over and encircling bladder portions 94, 95. At this time thereserve supply bobbin is donned and ready to undergo the end-findingcycle.

As shaft 24 continues to rotate an appropriate trip dog 202 engages astar wheel 204 to admit air through air line 76 thereby inflatingbladder 90 and causing it to expand against the wail of the central boreof the bobbin B. This occurs after shaft 24 has rotated about 185. Withthe bobbin B secured on arbor 60 a further trip dog 202 operates torotate a related star wheel 2114 associated with a valve to admit airthrough air hose 56 to drive air motor 52 and, in turn, rotate bobbin Bopposite to the direction in which the yarn is wound thereon.Immediately thereafter, i.e., after shaft 24 has rotated in the order of190", further trip dogs 202 operate to admit air through appropriatevalves in main valve 200, through air hoses 190, 192 and 194 to activatetransverse jet 180, down-jet 182, and cross-jet 184, respectively. Ashas already been stated, transverse jet 180 is aligned to direct its airblast against the tailing wind (see FIGS. 5, 5a) at the base of bobbin Band to strike this tailing wind at a point tangent to the axis of thebobbin and generally in the plane of the yarn windings on the bobbin inorder to extricate the outer end E of yarn off the adjoining yarn wrapsof the tailing wind, the operation being illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 5a.Since the force of the air pressure is in the same plane as the windingson the bobbin, the wraps or coils of yarn on the bobbin are leftundisturbed except for the outer yarn end residing in the tailing wind.

Once the outer end of yarn E has been pulled up from the bobbin it willobviously extend generally radially away from the bobbin, following inthe air stream from transverse jet 181], the target area therefor beingthe interior side of side-wall 151), at the position thereagainstproximate to the opening in slot 108 until the end becomes caught in thestream of air from down-jet 182. The end of yarn E is then blowndownward toward floor 154 and, more particularly, at the margin thereofwhere side wall 151) joins therewith. The end of yarn E is therebydisposed within the confines of duct 1411. At this time air fromcross-jet 184 is operable to blow the yarn end E downstream toward airpassage 14-2.. The yarn end E is thereby extended from bobbin B, throughslot 108, and along duct 14%, see FIG. 7. Due to the fact that the yarnwill naturally tend to be drawn in a straight line, it will move intothe zone of cutter wheels 1162, 163 as it extends between slot 108 andthe downstream end of duct adjacent air passage 142. Further, since thecurrent of high pressure air from cross-jet 1% moves along arcuate walls150, 152 it has a whirling or circular motion imparted thereto tendingto form a cavity or vortex at the base of arbor 613 and in the zone ofcutter wheels 162, 163. This cavity or negative pressure zone at thecenter of circulating air from cross-jet 184 creates a pressuredifferential within duct 141i acting to draw the yarn end E blowndownstream by the air from the cross-jet, and engaged of the edge ofslot 198, between the cutter wheels and annulus 160, see FIGS. 6 and641. As a result the tailing wind is severed by the cutter wheels 162,163 which rotate by frictional engagement with the annulus. The clippedor severed ends of tailing wind are carried away in the stream of airflowing into air passage 142, see FIGS. 7, 70. These ends eventuallycome to rest on screen 146.

The amount or length of yarn which will be cut from the bobbin wiil, ofcourse, depend on the duration of the air flow from, particularly,transverse jet and cross-jet 1% combined with the continuance ofrotation of the bobbin. Hence, by turning off the air to transverse jetdhil and cross-jet 184 the downstream movement of the yarn along duct141i is stopped. These movements coincide with the removal of thetailing wind from bobbin B and are accomplished by positioningappropriate trip dogs 202 to strike suita'ble star wheels 2114 therebyclosing the valves which control air movement to transverse jet 180 andcross-jet 1S4. Simultaneously therewith, air to down-jet 182 is shut offby closing the appropriate control valve in main air valve 2190 byfurther trip dog 202. The tailing wind is severed, and jets 180 184 areturned off after generally 250 of indexing of shaft 24.

An appropriate air valve in control valve 201) is actuated by a trip dog202 to admit air to up-jet 186 immediately after jets 180434 are shutoff. In consequence thereof the doffing wind is blown upwardly (see FIG.8) into the zone beneath bonnet 15 to be controlled by instrumentalitiesassociated with control section 11) of the winding machine to unite thesupply yarn with the yarn from the take-up package. These means arefully described in the cited Kieronski patent application and US. Patent2,764,362 and reference may be had thereto for further details of theseinstrumentalities. The up-jet 186 and air motor 52 are shut off afterabout 350 of rotation of shaft 24.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that by virtue of the presentinvention it is possible to extricate the outer end of the tailing windof a supply bobbin, unwind this tailing wind and sever it from theservice wind of the bobbin whereafter the dofling Wind and the servicewind can be delivered for uniting with a companion yarn end from anassociated take-up package. Moreover, it will be readily evident thatthe end of the tailing wind is extricated while avoiding displacement ofthe coils of yarn on the bobbin thereby obviating chance of damage tothese coils. Additionally, the tailing wind end is manipulated tocutting means Where only the tailing Wind need be cut from the bobbinprior to movement of the supply yarn end to the winding machine forjoining with the take-up package end. As a result, a highly eflicientsupply bobbin readying unit is provided which achieves significanteconomies in operation.

In this application there is shown and described only the preferredembodiment of the invention simply by way of illustration of thepreferred mode of carrying out the invention. It will be readilyapparent, however, that the drawings and detailed description herein aremerely illustrative in nature and are not intended by way of limitationof the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of preparing a bobbin wound with yarn for unwindingcomprising the steps of, applying a force to the yarn on said bobbin toextend the outer yarn end from said bobbin in a plane substantiallynormal to the axis of the bobbin, providing severing means for cuttingsaid outer yarn end, directing a fluid stream in a path to move theextended outer yarn end to said severing means, and severing said outeryarn end to produce a free yarn end connected to said bobbin.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of directing thefluid stream in a path to create a vortex in the zone of said severingmeans to induce said outer yarn end into engagement with the severingmeans.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of applying aforce to the outer yarn end to induce said extended yarn end into thepath of said fluid stream.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of rotating thebobbin in a direction opposite to the direction in which yarn is woundthereon as said force is applied to said yarn.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of directing thefree yarn end axially of said bobbin.

6. Apparatus for preparing a bobbin wound with yarn for unwindingcomprising, support means for positioning said bobbin, first fluiddelivery means located to deliver a fluid stream against the yarn onsaid bobbin in a path substantially normal to the axis of said bobbin toextend the outer yarn end therefrom, severing means operable to seversaid outer yarn end extending from said bobbin, and second fluiddelivery means for directing a fluid stream against said outer yarn endin a path to induce said end to said severing means for severing tothereby produce a free yarn end connected to said bobbin.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including a downjet for directing afluid stream against said outer yarn end to induce said end into thepath of said stream emitted by Said second fluid delivery means.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including means for rotating saidbobbin in a direction opposite to the direction in which yarn is woundthereon as said stream from said first fluid delivery means is directedthereto.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including a conduit for guidingsaid stream emitted by said second fluid means, said conduit beingarranged to circulate said last mentioned stream in a path to create avortex in the zone of said severing means.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including an upjet for emitting afluid stream to move said free yarn end axially of said bobbin.

11. Apparatus for preparing a bobbin for unwinding comprising supportmeans for positioning said bobbin for unwinding, conduit means having aside wall for partially surrounding said support means, first fluiddelivery means located to deliver a fluid stream against the yarn onsaid bobbin in a path substantially normal to the axis of the bobbin toextend the outer yarn end therefrom, and against the side wall of saidconduit means, severing means positioned within the confines of saidconduit means and operable to sever the yarn end extending from saidbobbin, and second fluid delivery means positioned to emit a fluidstream along said conduit side wall in a path to induce said end to saidsevering means for severing to produce a free yarn end connected to saidbobbin.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including means for rotatablypositioning said support means, and a motor for rotating said supportmeans in a direction opposite to the direction in which yarn is wound onthe bobbin as the stream from said first fluid delivery means isdirected to the bobbin.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the conduit side wall isarcuate to thereby circulate the fluid from said second fluid stream ina path to create a vortex in the zone of said severing means.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including an upjet for emitting afluid stream to move said free yarn end axially of said bobbin.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including a Waste collectorassociated with said conduit means for receiving the yarn severed bysaid severing means.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including centering means forlocating said bobbin on said support means, and means associated withsaid support means to hold said bobbin in position thereon.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said severing meansincludes cutter wheel means, and adjustment means to locating saidwheels to be driven in response to rotation of said support means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,769,598 11/1956Drake et al 24235.5 3,034,737 5/1962 Furst 24235.6 3,059,866 10/1962Reiners 242-356 3,136,494 6/1964 Furst 242-356 3,236,464 2/1966 W'ey24235.6 3,257,083 6/1966 Furst 24235.6

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF PREPARING A BOBBIN WOUND WITH YARN FOR UNWINDINGCOMPRISING THE STEPS OF, APPLYING A FORCE TO THE YARN ON SAID BOBBIN TOEXTEND THE OUTER YARN END FROM SAID BOBBIN INA PLANE SUBSTANTIALLYNORMAL TO THE AXIS OF THE BOBBIN, PROVIDING SEVERING MEANS FOR CUTTINGSAID OUTER YARN END, DIRECTING A FLUID STREAM IN A PATH TO MOVE THEEXTENDED OUTER YARN END TO SAID SEVERING MEANS, AND SEVERING SAID OUTERYARN END TO PRODUCE A FREE YARN END CONNECTED TO SAID BOBBIN.